Namibia is open to long-term energy and mining partnerships with Türkiye, the country's deputy minister of industries, mines and energy said, inviting Turkish investors and calling for support in skills transfer.
Speaking to Anadolu on the sidelines of the Libya Energy and Economy Summit (LEES) 2026 in Tripoli, Gaudentia Krohne said Türkiye has strong expertise in energy, renewable energy, energy infrastructure and mineral development.
"There are clear opportunities for Turkish companies to participate in solar and wind projects, grid infrastructure, mining services, mineral processing and industrial development," Krohne said and added: "This can create mutually beneficial partnerships based on long-term cooperation and shared growth between Namibia and Türkiye."
Emphasizing that Namibia follows a foreign policy of being "a friend to all and an enemy to none," Krohne said the country is ready for all forms of cooperation with Türkiye based on the win-win principle.
She noted that achieving employment targets in Namibia, where a large share of the population is young, would only be possible through capital, technology and skills transfer provided by foreign investors.
Krohne outlined the importance of establishing joint ventures with 51% Namibian ownership and 49% foreign participation.
She added that Namibia offers a stable regulatory and tax environment while facilitating work visas of up to five years, particularly to support skills transfer and ensure local capacity building.
- Transition from raw material exports to value addition
Krohne said Namibia is no longer willing to export raw materials without processing, stressing that value addition is essential to industrialization and job creation.
She noted that partnerships with countries such as Türkiye, including the establishment of manufacturing plants, would support job creation in Namibia and further strengthen bilateral relations.
"As a government, our priority is to use Namibia's energy and mineral resources to drive economic growth, industrialization and job creation," Krohne said. "We are focusing on value addition, strengthening local content, skills development, sustainable mining practices, expanding renewable energy capacity, and positioning Namibia as a future hub for oil and gas as well as green hydrogen," she explained.
Stating that legislative work in these fields is ongoing, Krohne said Namibia welcomes cooperation with international investors and technical partners.
"We value partnerships that bring investment, technology transfer and skills development while ensuring real benefits for Namibians," she said, adding that priority areas include renewable energy, oil and gas, critical minerals beneficiation and energy infrastructure.
- Call to Türkiye
Highlighting Namibia's strong renewable energy potential, Krohne said the country has abundant solar and wind resources as well as available land, but needs investment and skills. "We need Türkiye on board," she said.
Krohne said Namibia's priority minerals include uranium, noting that while the country currently exports uranium, its goal is to develop a nuclear power plant to reduce energy costs.
She added that Namibia has restricted the export of lithium and other critical minerals, including rare earth elements, copper, gold and graphite, to promote local value addition.
Emphasizing that these resources are vital for the global energy transition, Krohne underlined the opportunities for responsible investment, regional and continental cooperation.
"We look forward to partnerships with countries such as Türkiye, which can support this process through investment, technology and strategic collaboration," she said.
Stating that Namibia is a stable, peaceful and investor-friendly country, Krohne concluded:
"We invite Türkiye to come and invest in Namibia. You can identify your priority areas, and we can lead you. You can also guide us in skills transfer. You are good at renewable energy. We can take this work together."
By Sibel Morrow and Firdevs Yuksel in Trablus, Libya
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr
